Southwestern Union Record

Detroit, Mich. » The clock counted down, seven…six…five. The two well-prepared Bible Bowl team captains answered questions back and forth. Five…four…three. The last question was asked: "In what manner did Agag come unto Samuel?” Dajah Swinton  of the Southwest Region Conference Senior Youth team buzzed in simultaneously with the buzzer to end the game! Because she had buzzed in, she had to provide a response. Dajah gave her answer only to hear, “Your answer is incorrect.”

There was silence in the room, as Southwest Region had a five-point lead and Northeastern Conference had an opportunity to win the game with the correct answer to the 10-point toss-up question! Frantz Fils-Aime of the Northeastern Conference buzzed in with his response, however, his answer, too, was incorrect! The answer they were looking for was "delicately" (1 Sam 15:32). Much to the Northeastern Conference's disappointment and the Southwest Region's relief, Southwest prevailed with a score of 225 to 220 to end one of the most exciting games in the Senior Youth Division at the National Bible Bowl Championship. The championship took place in Detroit on October 21 and 22, 2011.

For the Southwest Conference Senior Youth team of Dajah Swinton, Alexia Griggs, Jessica Giscombe, Walter Hall, Brianna Daphnis, and Langston Swinton, 2011 was the breakthrough year. After coming tantalizingly close to winning in 2009 and 2010, they were thrilled to pull it off. Congratulations to the Southwest Senior Youth Team and coaches Adrienne Swinton and Pamela Daphnis.

The Southwest Region was also the champion in the Junior Youth Division. The Southwest Junior Youth team of Denee McClain, Christian Brown, Sasha Taylor, Kayla Grayson, and Olivia Brown did what no other junior youth team has ever done in Southwest Region Bible Bowl history: capture the championship trophy. They did so in impressive fashion by finishing the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. They praised the Lord by demonstrating a thorough and deep knowledge of the Bible. Congratulations to the team and to Coach Michael Brown. It was Coach Brown’s seventh year participating in Bible Bowl as coach.

That's not all! Southwest also was represented in two other championship final round games. The Southwest Pre-Junior team, out of the Houston Berean church, came into the championship round with no losses. They played a thrilling game, which ended in a dramatic tie. This necessitated a lightning round, which also ended astonishingly in a tie. A second lightning round was played and the Northeastern conference edged around Southwest. This meant that both pre-junior teams had a loss and needed another tiebreaker to decide the championship. When all was said and done, Northeastern captured the championship and Southwest finished as first runner-up, an amazing achievement for their first time at nationals. The Southwest Pre-Junior Team included Buhle Maposa and Kayla Rose, and was coached by Keith Rose and Marcia Vanhorn.

In the young adult championship, Southwest was represented again, making it to 4 out of 5 for championship rounds, another first for the Southwest Region. Once again, the Southwest Young Adult team, represented by the Alpha Austin Church, demonstrated excellence at the national level. For the fourth year in a row, and including the Youth Congress All-Star games, they have won two championships and secured three first runner-up trophies. The year 2011 was no different as Fabian Morgan and Trisharna Thompson placed as first runner-up in the Young Adult Division. Northeastern Conference reclaimed the championship trophy after giving it up to Southwest in 2010 in Canada. Congratulations to the team and coach Bruce Chatmon.

In the Adult Division, the Southwest Region, for the first time, was represented by the Hebron church from Houston. Team members included Linda Thompson, Alma Cooper, Suzette Hoyte, and Donovan Gramham. This was their first time to participate as players; in 2009 and 2010 they represented Southwest Region as judges. What a job they did in representing Southwest Region Conference with class and grace, not to mention demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the Word. They also supported the other divisions at the championship games. Watch out for Hebron in the coming years!

Serving as judges were the Memorial church from Mansfield, La., and the Berean church from Houston. We are grateful for McLawrence Fuller, Velma Fuller, Tim Fuller, and Brandon Daphnis who came and offered their services. They greatly assisted in judging the games with their vast knowledge of the Word.

Truly the Lord’s name was praised in Detroit by the study of the Word. For more information about the Bible Bowl, please contact Maurice J. Turner at 817.925.9569, or biblebowlsouthwest@yahoo.com.